Yang Jing-min’s fourth-quarter surge for the second straight night rallied Taiwan Beer from as many as nine down in the fourth to tie the game in regulation, before winning 94-89 in overtime to take Game 3 of the Championship Finals at the Sinjhuang Gymnasium in New Taipei City last night.
The win gave Taiwan Beer a commanding 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, one victory shy of their third title in eight seasons.
It was Yang’s clutch shot while a defender was all over him in the closing seconds of regulation that forced the contest into extra session, and his six points in overtime sealed the deal for Taiwan Beer.
The Tigers were trailing 2-0 as they headed into a must-win situation last night and came out firing with hired gun Alexus Foyle scoring eight of his team’s 21 to enjoy a 21-15 advantage after one quarter.
Taiwan Beer tightened its defense early in the second quarter to tie the game at 28-all before the Tigers replied with a 17-9 run in the final five minute of the quarter to lead it 45-37 at the half.
Lin Yi-hui’s free throw following Wang Chih-chuin’s traditional three-point play gave the Tigers their biggest lead of the game at 49-37, before Wu Dai-hao took over the game inside the paint with 10 points to keep the deficit at six heading into the fourth.
That was when the Taiwan Beer offense decided to up their perimeter game as Yang, Ho Sho-cheng and Emmanuel Jones combined for five three’s in a 30-point fourth to tie the game at 83.
Taiwan Beer scored the first seven points in overtime to lead 90-83 en route to their third straight come-from-behind victory.
Failure to put the game away in the fourth with four costly turnovers in the quarter, coupled with Taiwan Beer’s amazing 12-for-15 shooting from the field, ultimately cost the Tigers the game.
Foyle had another strong game on the night with 24 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not nearly enough to pull off the win for the Tigers as they fell short for the third straight game in yet another disheartening defeat.
UPCOMING ACTION
The two teams have three days off before Wednesday night’s Game 4 at 7pm in Sinjhuang where another loss would clinch the title for Taiwan Beer, while a loss would extend the series for the Tigers for another game.
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Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
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